Materia Medica Malaysiana

Penang hospitals join diseases database team

PENANG: With people living longer these days, more are facing the risk of getting diseases related to aging.
For this reason, a group of scientists in Canada, led by a Malaysian, is gathering blood sample data from around the world to develop a database of molecular signatures of a wide range of medical conditions and diseases.
Prof Liew Choong-Chin, the chief scientist and director of Chondrogene Ltd of Toronto, said with the increase in life expectancy, more people would live long enough to risk getting cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
“We have to look at developing an early diagnostic system for the prediction of diseases,” he said, adding that they have roped in two private hospitals in Penang for the worldwide project.
His company signed an agreement with the Island Hospital yesterday to develop the Medical Biotechnology and Personalised Medicine programme. It entered into a similiar agreement with the Lam Wah Ee hospital on Thursday.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, witnessed yesterday’s signing ceremony between Prof Liew and Island Hospital chief executive officer Dr Chan Kok Ewe.
According to a statement, during a general screening test, all that is needed is a blood sample of the patient for the doctor to identity any disease and medical condition present by using the database.
Kampar-born Prof Liew, an ex-student of the Chung Ling High School here, said: “We chose to come here because I was born in Malaysia and educated in Penang.
“Penang also has a lot of talented people and is pioneering medical technology in the country.”
Dr Koh commended Prof Liew for returning here and said it was in line with the national policy to give impetus to the Malaysian biotechnology sector.
“Penang can contribute to the advancement of medical care not only in promoting medical tourism but also in offering the best diagnostic system and treatment to locals,” he said.
Dr Chan said private hospitals here had made the island proud by making it the foremost state in the country to contribute towards medical tourism.